Almost 250 prospective graduates crossed the stage to receive their degrees during the commencement ceremony held on Friday, August 10, in the Steinke Physical Education Center at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Sarah Schwandt, Student Government Association president, presented two Distinguished Student Awards. Those awards went to Alyssa Marie Reyes, College of Arts & Sciences and Modesto Morales, Jr., College of Business Administration.

Seferino "Nino" Mendietta, president of the Javelina Alumni Association, presented a university ring to one deserving graduate. Alumnus John P. Jackson, senior vice president, wealth advisor and senior investment management consultant with The Rockport Group of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Stanton Calvert, vice chancellor emeritus, brought the welcome from the Texas A&M University System.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville has once again received national acclaim, this time for its degree awards to minority students. Diverse Issues in Higher Education ranked the university 1st in the nation in awarding engineering degrees to Hispanic students and 2nd in awarding communications sciences and disorders undergraduate and graduate degrees. Several other programs and degree offerings were ranked highly by the publication. READ MORE

Homecoming Festivities Announced

The 2012 Homecoming events were recently announced for the week of October 22-27, culminating in the Kleberg Bank Homecoming Game on October 27, when the Javelinas battle Angelo State. Included in the week of festivities are several Javelina Alumni Association events on October 26 and 27. To see a complete listing of the Homecoming events CLICK HERE or go to the university's new Homecoming page at www.tamuk.edu/homecoming.

New Javelina Game Day Map Available

A new Javelina Game Day map has been released that identifies the new tailgate field, ticket office, available parking and other key landmarks for the upcoming football season. To download the new map CLICK HERE.

The Political Science Program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in conjunction with the university's Division of International Studies and Programs established the Pacific Studies Program (PSP), a unique collaborative with the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand to give students the unique opportunity to experience opportunities across the globe. Dr. Nirmal Goswami, Professor of Political Science and Dr. Christine Reiser-Robbins of the Anthropology program led twelve students on this educational journey.

From July 5-22 the group traveled to and attended classes at the University of Otago, while also visiting several sites of interest. The program focused on history, politics, economics, culture, sustainability, environmental politics among other topics.

A blog was created by the group with updates on their trip. You can read their blog HERE and view a slideshow of pictures they took.

College of Pharmacy to Provide MBA to Students

Students at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy will now be able to enroll in an online master's in business administration program offered by the College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. This program will be offered to graduates of the College and pharmacists in the workforce as well.

"We are happy to assist our pharmacy student neighbors whenever we can," said university President, Dr. Steven Tallant. "By offering our online MBA program to the pharmacy students, we are providing them with more chances to succeed in whatever area of the pharmaceutical industry they choose." READ MORE

2012-2013 Theatre Schedule Set

Officials in the art, communications and theatre departments at Texas A&M University-Kingsville have announced the schedule for the 2012-13 theatre season. Selections were made to both highlight the acting and directing talents of the university. To read more about the schedule highlights READ MORE

University to Host ACSM Fall Lecture Tour

Texas A&M University-Kingsville has been selected as one of just five universities in Texas to host its Fall Lecture Tour for the American College of Sports Medicine. On Thursday, October 4th, in J. Talmer Peacock Auditorium (BES Room 100), Dr. Claude Bouchard will be presenting a lecture on physical activity attenuation of the influence of a genetic predisposition to obesity. More information is available on the event's Facebook page.

His voice, friendliness and professional weather expertise are plastered all over television sets across Corpus Christi. Several times he has been named the Corpus Christi Caller-Times’ “Best of the Best” meteorologist, and his signature greeting creates even more fans.

“Hola Amigos,’’ is Bill Vessey’s regular introduction to his local forecast. He is enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and recently, he became one of the first people in the world to earn the highest level of broadcast meteorology, the American Meteorological Society's (AMS) Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal.

Vessey’s successful career began in South Texas, at then Texas A&I University. He moved from New York to Kingsville to attend the university and graduated in 1972 with a degree in Journalism. He credits the college for teaching him the basic lessons which have carried him throughout his lengthy broadcast career.

Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Adams, who pitched for the Javelinas from 1999-2001, is the first announced inductee into the 2012 Javelina Hall of Fame during a ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2013 in the Memorial Student Union Building ballrooms. It will be the third honor Adams has received from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in less than a year. He also had his number retired and received an honorary lifetime membership to the Javelina Alumni Association in January of 2012.

First recruited by the Javelinas as a basketball player, the Sinton native went on to win accolades for his pitching including Lone Star Conference pitcher of the year, the All-Lone Star Conference first team and NCAA Division II All-South Region team. He signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001 and made his major league debut in 2004. In addition to competing in a World Series with the Texas Rangers last year, he has also played for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres. READ MORE

Flores Tabbed by LSC as Sportswriter of the Year David Flores, a Javelina graduate, was honored by the Lone Star Conference for the second time (first in 1982) with the Kirk Hill Award as the league's top sportswriter. The award is named for the late Kirk Hill of the Houston Post who won the first award in 1963. Don Elder, longtime broadcaster for Eastern New Mexico University, won the Jake Trussell Award for outstanding broadcaster of the year. That award is named for the late Jake Trussell of Kingsville who broadcasted Javelina games for years. READ MORE>.

Saddler-McQeen Catches on With Texans Jimmy Saddler-McQueen, former Lone Star Conference co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2008, signed on with the Houston Texans in the preseason. He has also had brief stints with the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys since last playing with the Javelinas in 2009. READ MORE>

Kreidler Funeral Home Recognized for 100 Years in Business The June issue of McNews, a monthly publication produced by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, published a feature on Kreidler Funeral Home for celebrating 100 years of business. Two of the men on the cover photo, H. Maynard Kreidler (left) and John Kreidler (right), are graduates of then Texas A&I University. Maynard graduated in 1948 with his BBA and John graduated in December of 1970 with a BS in Secondary Education. John's son, William (pictured at right), is the fifth generation in the family's firm. To download a PDF of the cover and feature CLICK HERE.

Alumni Association Update

Kingsville Alumni Social and Tailgating Kickoff New School Year The new academic year is off to a fast start with some great events on tap. We'll start the year off with a Kingsville alumni mixer sponsored and hosted by Kleberg Bank. The mixer will be this Thursday, August 30th at their Downtown Banking Center (100 E. Kleberg St.) from 530 p.m. to 700 p.m. Food will be provided and Discount Liquor will be conducting a wine tasting. University officials will also be on hand and give updates about the upcoming academic and athletic year. For more information CLICK HERE.

The Javelina Alumni Association will also have its tent up at all of the home games for tailgating. Alumni are welcome to stop by and visit from 400 p.m. until around 630 p.m. (when we head into the stadium for the game). Our tent will be located between the Athletics tent and the Javelina For Life tent. So come join us this Saturday before the Javelinas take on Central Washington.

The Javelina Alumni Association held a pair of Send-Off events to welcome new first year students and their parents to the university. The first was held in San Antonio on August 7th at Cafe College with over 40 people in attendance. Balous Miller, owner of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, was one of the featured speakers along with President Steven Tallant. A photo gallery for the event can be found HERE.

Two days later on August 9th, a second event was held in McAllen at the Embassy Suites. More than 200 people attended the event, which featured a message from 2012 Distinguished Alumnus, Chief Justice Rogelio Valdez. A photo gallery for that event can be found HERE.

The Javelina Alumni Association will be hosting an Alumni Weekend in Dallas for the Lonestar Football Festival, September 14 & 15. On Friday, September 14 a Javelina Alumni Social will be held at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington at 600 p.m. in conjunction with the Texas Rangers game versus the Seattle Mariners. Then on Saturday, September 15 the fun continues when the Javelina football team takes on the West Texas A&M Buffaloes at Cowboys Stadium at 800 p.m.

The Javelina Alumni Association and Office of Marketing and Communications are proud to announce the winners of the first ever Javelina Pride Baby Contest. Congratulations to Ruben Jaanus Cantu, Serenity Pettes and Gage Urbanovsky, and thank you to all of the parents that submitted entries for their adorable children. To learn more about the winners and the contest click on the banner below.

Looking to Re-Connect with Alumni - the JAA can help! Is there a fellow Javelina you would like to re-connect with? The Javelina Alumni Association can help you try to find fellow Javelinas. Contact the JAA office by email or at (361) 593-4338. We've already started making connections! Let us know if we can help you!

We have an alumnus who is looking for a Homer Smith, who graduated in 1964 or 1965. Mr. Smith can contact our office to learn more about reconnecting with this fellow alumnus.